Memory Bias Research Articles

Working memory biases early object discrimination and parietal activity during attentional selection.

The contents of working memory (WM) guide visual attention, but the neural mechanisms underlying WM biases remains unclear. Here, we used simultaneous electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) approaches to characterize the timing and location of the neural response underlying WM guidance during a visual search task. Behaviorally, we observed faster search performance when the WM contents matching targets (valid) compared to when WM contents did not reappear (neutral). The EEG data showed similar benefit effects of posterior N1 component, in which targets induced larger N1 amplitudes in the valid condition than in the neutral condition. Interestingly, the fMRI activation in left supramarginal gyrus (SMG)/inferior parietal lobule (IPL) and bilateral occipital cortex was lower in the valid compared to neutral conditions. Importantly, the magnitude of the increased N1 activity and the decreased fMRI activity in the left SMG/IPL predicted the extent of search improvement at an individual subject level. These results suggest that information held in WM enhances early object discrimination during attentional selection, and the left SMG/IPL may be a critical region in mediating goal-directed processing under WM biases in human visual attention.

Lateral Bias in Visual Working Memory

The present study aimed to evaluate functional cerebral asymmetries of visual working memory (VWM) in relation to language lateralization. The bilateral change detection paradigm with capital letters as stimuli and the translingual lexical decision task were used to assess VWM and language asymmetry, respectively, in a sample of 99 younger healthy participants (59 women). Participant attention was cued towards right or left visual half-field. For the VWM task, men and women were more accurate and faster when stimuli were presented in the right visual half-field compared to the left visual half-field. As expected, a significant right visual half-field advantage was demonstrated in the lexical decision task in performance accuracy (but not response time). The results also revealed no relationship between lateralization in VWM and lexical decision. VWM performance accuracy decreased significantly with increasing asymmetry. This relationship was significant for women, but not men. Taken together, the present study demonstrates that the lateral bias in visual working memory is independent from language lateralization, and less lateralized individuals perform better than individuals with larger asymmetries in both visual half-field tasks.

Impacts on children's health of adverse childhood experiences of their mothers: A gender-specific mediation analysis using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study

BackgroundNumerous people have suffered adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) that can have lasting negative consequences. However, few studies have focused on maternal ACEs' effect on their children's health. This study aimed to evaluate the impact on children's health of ACEs that their mothers experienced. MethodsData from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) 2018 combined with the CHARLS 2014 Life History Survey were analyzed. The logistic regression was used to investigate maternal ACEs' impact on their children's health. Based on the stepwise regression model and bias-corrected bootstrap, we estimated the mediating effects. ResultsMaternal ACEs could result in harm to the health of children (P < 0.05). If the types of maternal ACEs increased by one unit, the odds ratio of their children's poor health would rise by 9.6 %. Moreover, if the types of maternal ACEs increased by one unit, the odds ratio of daughters' and sons' poor health would increase by 8.3 % and 10.2 %, respectively. Three mediating mechanisms of mothers' education, physical health, and mental health were confirmed by empirical tests. LimitationsWe could not employ objective indicators to measure children's health. Meanwhile, maternal ACEs were all self-reported from the mothers' recollection, which might descend the accuracy due to memory bias. ConclusionMaternal ACEs harmed the health of both their sons and daughters. The children's health would deteriorate as the maternal ACEs increased. Mother's education, physical health, and mental health mediated the relationships between maternal ACEs and children's health.

Binge drinking indirectly predicts a negative emotional memory bias through coping motivations and depressive symptoms: The role of sex/gender.

In this three-part study, we investigate whether the associations between binge and problematic drinking patterns with a negative emotional memory bias (NMB) are indirectly related through coping motivations and depressive symptoms. We also address potential sex differences in these relations. Participants (N = 293) completed the Timeline Followback to assess binge drinking, the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) to assess problematic alcohol use, the Drinking Motives Questionnaire-Revised to assess coping motivations, and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales-21 to assess depression. Participants were asked to identify whether 30 emotional sentences were self-referent or not in an incidental encoding task; 24 h later they were asked to recall as many sentences as possible and a negative memory bias score was calculated. Across all three studies, we found significant bivariate relations between AUDIT scores, coping, depression, and an NMB, particularly for sentences participants deemed self-referent. In two undergraduate samples, there were significant indirect effects through coping motivations and depressive symptoms between binge drinking and an NMB in females as well as between AUDIT scores and an NMB in females only. In the community sample, there was only an indirect effect through coping motives, but this was observed in both females and males. These findings support a relation between binge drinking as well as problematic alcohol use and a self-referent NMB in the context of coping motivations for alcohol use and depressive symptoms. Moreover, the pattern of findings suggests this model primarily holds for females, yet may also apply to males at higher levels of problematic alcohol use.

The Effect of Robot-Led Distraction during Needle Procedures on Pain-Related Memory Bias in Children with Chronic Diseases: A Pilot and Feasibility Study.

The current study evaluated the feasibility and preliminary clinical impact of robot-led distraction during needle procedures in children with chronic diseases on pain-related memories. Participants were 22 children (8-12 years old) diagnosed with a chronic disease (e.g., chronic immune deficiency) and undergoing a needle procedure as part of their routine treatment. Children were randomized to the experimental group (i.e., robot-led distraction) or control group (i.e., usual care). For feasibility, we evaluated study- and needle-procedure-related characteristics, intervention fidelity and acceptability, and nurse perceptions of the intervention. Primary clinical outcomes included children's memory bias for pain intensity and pain-related fear (1 week later). Results indicated that intervention components were &gt;90% successful. Overall, the robot-led distraction intervention was perceived highly acceptable by the children, while nurse perceptions were mixed, indicating several challenges regarding the intervention. Preliminary between-group analyses indicated a medium effect size on memory bias for pain intensity (Hedges' g = 0.70), but only a very small effect size on memory bias for pain-related fear (Hedges' g = 0.09), in favor of the robot-led distraction intervention. To summarize, while feasible, certain challenges remain to clinically implement robot-led distraction during needle procedures. Further development of the intervention while accounting for individual child preferences is recommended.

Combined effects of the contraceptive hormones, ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel, on the use of place and response memory in gonadally-intact female rats

During maze navigation rats can rely on hippocampus-mediated place memory or striatum-mediated response memory. Ovarian hormones bias whether females use place or response memory to reach a reward. Here, we investigated the impact of the contraceptive hormones, ethinyl estradiol (EE) and levonorgestrel (LNG), on memory bias. A total of 63 gonadally-intact female rats were treated with either 10 μg/kg of EE alone, 20 μg/kg of LNG alone, both 10 μg/kg of EE and 20 μg/kg of LNG together, or a sesame oil injection with 5% ethanol as a vehicle control. Rats in the control condition were tested during the diestrus phase of the estrous cycle in order to control for the low circulating levels of gonadotropin and ovarian hormones that occur with oral contraceptive administration. Rats treated with LNG alone had a bias towards the use of place memory compared to diestrus phase control rats. This bias was not observed if LNG was administered in combination with EE. Rats treated with EE or EE+LNG did not have a statistically significant difference in memory bias compared to rats in the control group. These data show that synthetic hormones contained in oral contraceptives administered to females influence which cognitive strategy is predominantly used during navigation.

Midwives’ Perspectives regarding Involvement of Male Partners during Pregnancy at a Maternal Health Facility in Eswatini

Globally, maternal and child health services have made efforts to involve men for several decades. There has been noted progress among some European countries, which is contrary to some observations among African states. Midwives’ attitudes have an impact on men accompanying pregnant women for antenatal care services. This study aimed to investigate midwives’ perspectives regarding male partners’ involvement during pregnancy at a maternal health facility in Eswatini (previously Swaziland). A qualitative, explorative, descriptive design was used to achieve the study objectives. Eight midwives were purposively sampled to conduct face-to-face in-depth interviews using an interview guide. Research instruments such as a semi-structured interview guide and audiotapes were used to maintain consistency and minimise memory bias. Data were analysed using qualitative thematic analysis. Findings include midwives’ feelings; health system challenges such as a shortage of staff and space and a lack of guiding policies; male partner-related challenges such as time constraints and competing responsibilities, social stigma and cultural taboo from communities, and co-habiting behaviour. Benefits for men accompanying their pregnant women included instant informed consent and initiation of medications, health education opportunities, partner involvement in breastfeeding techniques and family planning, and building a positive family relationship. Conclusions are that, despite the interest among males to be available to provide support for women in the process of pregnancy, midwives are not yet ready. It is, therefore, recommended that midwives’ education and policy development be considered for positive male involvement.

The Effect of Episodic Future Thinking on Negative Emotions and its Mechanism

The research on the relationship of episodic future thinking (EFT) and reducing negative emotions is geeting more attention from scholars. This paper first discusses the precondition of EFT, including scenario understanding, scenario memory, and positive bias in predicting future. Then the paper explores the influencing mechanism of EFT and the treatment, which are the effect on general anxiety disorder, helping retrieve positive memories, the use of RIF in memory retrieve, anxiety and rumination, as well as he worries about future. Finally, it mentions the limitation of the research, like the aging effect. Over all, the paper emphasizes on the other possible solutions of dealing with negative emotions in the future.

Emotional valence of self-defining memories in older adults: A longitudinal study.

The present study aimed to evaluate the pleasantness bias and fading affect bias in self-defining memories (SDMs) and to examine the relationship between their emotional valence of SDMs and cognitive function and serotonin transporter polymorphisms (5-HTTLPR) with a prospective longitudinal method. Ninety-two older adults recalled SDMs twice at an interval of one year (T1 and T2). The results showed a pleasantness bias and a fading affect bias in SDMs. The higher the working memory was, the higher the vividness of SDMs and the higher the concordance rate of SDMs between T1 and T2. Meanwhile, cognitive performance had no effect on the emotional valence of SDMs. Additionally, the repeatedly recalled SDMs in the S/S allele carriers of the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism changed with a lower negative valence at T2 than at T1. The 5-HTTLPR polymorphism may be a plasticity factor that predicts positive outcomes in positive situations.

Visual Attentional Pattern of the Eyewitness in a Mock Crime with Weapon Presence

The weapon focus effect is defined as eyewitnesses focus more on weapons than other details(e.g., perpetrator) of the crime scene which cause memory bias. The present study investigated how the presence of a weapon affects the visual attention and memory of the eyewitness. Participants were randomized within two groups: the weapon focus effect condition(WC) and the novelty condition(NC). The participants' visual attention pattern(dwell time) was measured while participants were observing the interaction between the two individuals(clerk and customer) at the mock crime slide show. At the end of the experiment, the participants were asked about what they saw on the slide show. As a result, it was confirmed that the weapon condition showed a different attention pattern from those in the non-weapon condition. Overall, both groups were found to spend more time on target objects(knife/cashier's check), but WC participants spent longer time on clerks when weapons were presented than NC participants. On the other hand, in both groups, there was no difference in memory. This study provided evidence for the visual attention patterns of eyewitnesses at simulated crime scenes with weapons.

The mediating effect of depression on new-onset stroke in diabetic population: Evidence from the China health and retirement longitudinal study

BackgroundDiabetes has a high incidence in China, which may cause stroke and depression. However, the relationship between diabetes and the incidence of new-onset stroke and depression has not been fully studied. MethodsThe data from the China Longitudinal Study on Health and Retirement (CHARLS) from 2013 to 2018 were used. A total of 8530 respondents aged ≥45 years old were included in the follow-up study. Logistic regression model, Cox regression, and Mediation analyses were used to explore the association between diabetes, depression, and new-onset stroke. ResultsThe depression score of patients with diabetes history was higher (HR,95%CI = 1.02, 1.01–1.04) and were more likely to experience new-onset stroke events (HR, 95%CI = 1.046, 1.02–1.07). With a history of hypertension (HR,95%CI = 1.747, 1.381–2.208), older (HR,95%CI = 1.033, 1.020–1.046) with high BMI (HR,95%CI = 1.056, 1.027–1.086) have a high risk of new-onset stroke. In the combined subgroup analysis, the incidence of new-onset stroke in the subgroup with diabetes depression was higher than in others. The mediating effect of depression on new-onset stroke events in diabetic patients is more pronounced in the medium to long term (>3 years) after adjusting covariates. LimitationsWe defined new-onset stroke by patient self-report, there might be some memory bias. In addition, new-onset stroke was not classified in the CHARLS questionnaire, which would hinder us to evaluate the mediating effect of depression on different types of new-onset stroke. ConclusionOur results showed that depression has a partial mediating effect between diabetes and new-onset stroke in the middle-aged and elderly population in China.

Negative body image and avoidant retrieval of body-related autobiographical memories

ABSTRACT People with a negative body image may be more likely to recall negative memories of their body, but also be motivated to avoid retrieving specific memories to prevent triggering aversive emotions (e.g., disgust). Such inclination to retain at a global level of memory recall may hamper the correction of their negative body image. In previous research using Autobiographical Memory Tests (AMTs) with minimal instructions, we failed to find an overgeneral memory bias specific to individuals with a negative body image but observed low specificity overall in response to body cue words. In the present study (N = 153), we included the traditional AMT next to a minimal instructions AMT and explored the idea that sensory reliving may be relevant to avoidance by assessing sensory reliving ratings next to memory specificity. A negative body image was associated with more negative body memories. In both AMTs, the findings failed to support our prediction that a more negative body image would be associated with lower specificity or sensory reliving. The findings are consistent with the view that autobiographical memories might be an important factor in defining one’s body image, yet cast doubt on the relevance of avoidant retrieval of body-related memories in non-clinical samples.

Investigating neuropsychological and reward-related deficits in a chronic corticosterone-induced model of depression

Chronic stress is a known risk factor for the development of major depression (MDD) and is commonly used to induce a depression-like phenotype in rodents. Similar phenotypic effects are also observed in rodents when treated chronically with the stress hormone corticosterone. In this study, we investigated the neuropsychological consequences of chronic corticosterone treatment in male rats using two translational rodent assays of affective bias, the judgement bias task (JBT) and affective bias test (ABT). We also used the reward learning assay (RLA) and sucrose preference test (SPT) to quantify reward-related behaviours. Negative biases in decision-making were observed in the chronic corticosterone-treated group but only when the treatment was given shortly before each behavioural session. The same dose of corticosterone, when given daily after completion of the behavioural session had no effects. Chronic corticosterone treatment did not potentiate negative affective biases in the ABT induced by either an acute pharmacological or stress manipulation but both reward learning and reward sensitivity were blunted. Analysis of the brain tissue from animals receiving chronic corticosterone found reduced hippocampal neurogenesis consistent with previous studies suggesting corticosterone-induced neurotrophic deficits. Taken together, these data suggest chronic corticosterone treatment induces neuropsychological effects related to changes in reward learning, memory and negative biases in decision making, but these decision-making biases depend on whether rewarding outcomes were experienced during the acute effects of the drug. These findings suggest an important interaction between psychological and biological factors resulting in negative biases in decision-making in this model.

Intravenous and subcutaneous immunoglobulins-associated eczematous reactions occur with a broad range of immunoglobulin types: A French national multicenter study

Human immunoglobulins are used for treating diverse inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. Eczema is an adverse event reported but poorly described. To describe the clinical presentation, severity, outcome, and therapeutic management of immunoglobulin-associated eczema. This retrospective and descriptive study included a query of the French national pharmacovigilance database, together with a national call for cases among dermatologists. We included 322 patients. Eczema occurred preferentially in men (78.9%) and in patients treated for neurological pathologies (76%). The clinical presentation consisted mainly of dyshidrosis (32.7%) and dry palmoplantar eczema (32.6%); 5% of cases exhibited erythroderma. Sixty-two percent of the eczema flares occurred after the first immunoglobulin course. Eczema was observed with 13 intravenous or subcutaneous immunoglobulin types and recurred in 84% of patients who maintained the same treatment and in 68% who switched the immunoglobulin type. After immunoglobulin discontinuation, 30% of patients still had persistent eczema. Retrospective study, with possible missing data or memory bias. Immunoglobulin-associated eczema occurred with all immunoglobulin types, preferentially in patients with neurologic diseases who required prolonged immunoglobulin treatment. Recurrence was frequent, even after switching the immunoglobulin type, which can lead to a challenging therapeutic situation when immunoglobulin maintenance is required.

Influence of experience on dental implant placement: an in vitro comparison of freehand, static guided and dynamic navigation approaches

PurposeThis study aimed to investigate the performance of novice versus experienced practitioners for placing dental implant using freehand, static guided and dynamic navigation approaches.MethodsA total of 72 implants were placed in 36 simulation models. Three experienced and three novice practitioners were recruited for performing the osteotomy and implant insertion with freehand, surgical guide (pilot-drill guidance) and navigation (X-Guide, X-Nav technologies) approaches. Each practitioner inserted 4 implants per approach randomly with a 1-week gap to avoid memory bias (4 insertion sites × 3 approaches × 6 practitioners = 72 implants). The performance of practitioners was assessed by comparing actual implant deviation to the planned position, time required for implant placement and questionnaire-based self-confidence evaluation of practitioners on a scale of 1–30.ResultsThe navigation approach significantly improved angular deviation compared with freehand (P < 0.001) and surgical guide (P < 0.001) irrespective of the experience. Surgical time with navigation was significantly longer compared to the freehand approach (P < 0.001), where experienced practitioners performed significantly faster compared to novice practitioners (P < 0.001). Overall, self-confidence was higher in favor of novice practitioners with both guided approaches. In addition, the confidence of novice practitioners (median score = 26) was comparable to that of experienced practitioners (median score = 27) for placing implants with the navigation approach.ConclusionsDynamic navigation system could act as a viable tool for dental implant placement. Unlike freehand and static-guided approaches, novice practitioners showed comparable accuracy and self-confidence to that of experienced practitioners with the navigation approach.Graphical

Time is a great healer: Peak-end memory bias in anxiety – Induced by threat of shock

Recently, we demonstrated that the peak-end memory bias, which is well established in the context of pain, can also be observed in anxiety: Retrospective evaluations of a frightening experience are worse when peak anxiety is experienced at the end of an episode. Here, we set out to conceptually replicate and extend this finding with rigorous experimental control in a threat of shock paradigm. We induced two intensity levels of anxiety by presenting visual cues that indicated different strengths of electric stimuli. Each of the 59 participants went through one of two conditions that only differed in the order of moderate and high threat phases. As a manipulation check, orbicularis-EMG to auditory startle probes, electrodermal activity, and state anxiety confirmed the effects of the specific threat exposure. Critically, after some time had passed, participants for whom exposure had ended with high threat reported more anxiety for the entire episode than those for whom it ended with moderate threat. Moreover, they ranked their experience as more aversive when compared to other unpleasant everyday experiences. This study overcomes several previous limitations and speaks to the generalizability of the peak-end bias. Most notably, the findings bear implications for exposure therapy in clinical anxiety.

Declarative Memory Impairment and Emotional Bias in Recurrent Depression with a Seasonal Pattern: The Interplay between Emotion and Cognition in Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a subtype of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) with a seasonal pattern. Although it is a pathological condition limited to specific seasons of the year, during the symptomatic period, patients may experience a significant impairment of well-being and daily quality of life as a result of the depressed mood, associated with other symptoms defined as atypical of MDD. While extensive evidence of memory deficits has been found in MDD, explicit memory impairments in SAD are insufficiently studied. This study aims to investigate the cognitive processing of emotional stimuli in women with SAD, in particular the interplay between emotions and declarative memory. One hundred and twenty young women, screened from an initial number of 1125 university students, were divided into two groups, an experimental one that included 60 medically untreated women affected by “winter type SAD” and a control group of 60 non-SAD women. Different subjects were randomly submitted to two types of audio–visual stories, neutral or arousal, and then their memory performances were analyzed by means of a free-recall test and a recognition memory test. In both the free-recall test (p < 0.008) and in the recognition memory test (p < 0.002), the SAD group showed impaired memory performances. Taken together, our novel key findings suggest that SAD is characterized by impairment in declarative memory and attentional bias for emotional negative stimuli.

How state anxious individuals estimate time retrospectively: The mediating effect of memory bias.

The purpose of the present study is to explore how anxious individuals estimate time retrospectively, which may fill in a research gap of time estimation literature. Two experiments were conducted to investigate the mediating effect of memory bias on the relationship between state anxiety and retrospective time estimation. In Experiment 1, state anxiety (high and low) was manipulated by a standardized induction procedure, and retrospective time estimation was tested by the verbal estimation task. In Experiment 2, memory bias was measured by the free-recall task for the data analysis of the mediating role of memory bias in the relationship of state anxiety and retrospective time estimation. In a Supplementary Experiment, different methods were used to verify the robustness of the results in Experiment 2. The results suggest that (1) high state anxious individuals estimate a retrospective duration to be longer than low state anxious individuals, and (2) memory bias mediates the influence of state anxiety on retrospective time estimation. Our findings contribute to a deep understanding of the time distortion consequence of anxiety from a new perspective and offers important insight into the mechanism underlying the effect anxiety has on retrospective time estimation.

Social Influence and Autobiographical Recall: Shared Reality and Epistemic Trust Shape Perceptions of Autobiographical Events

Two experiments studied the evaluative adaptation process at the outset of a communication event to examine how autobiographical memory could be shaped by audience attitude, shared reality, and epistemic trust. Experiment 1 found that audience attitude influenced communicator perceptions of their own autobiographical memories and attitudes toward the memory topic. These effects were more pronounced when communicators experienced a shared reality with their audience. Experiment 2 found that epistemic trust in the audience increased shared reality with the audience, which in turn led to greater audience-congruent memory bias in which communicators had memory perceptions and attitudes that were evaluatively consistent with the attitudes of their audience. This project underscores the prevalence of social influence processes in autobiographical recall and identifies how processes that occur at the initial stages of interpersonal communication (i.e., perceived audience attitude, trust, and shared reality) can influence how individuals construe their own life events.

Partisan bias in false memories for misinformation about the 2021 U.S. Capitol riot

ABSTRACT Memory for events can be biased. For example, people tend to recall more events that support than oppose their current worldview. The present study examined partisan bias in memory for events related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot in the United States. Participants rated their memory for true and false events that were either favourable to their political party or the other major political party in the United States. For both true and false events, participants remembered more events that favoured their political party. Regression analyses showed that the number of false memories that participants reported was positively associated with their tendency to support conspiracy beliefs and with their self-reported engagement with the Capitol riot. These results suggest that Democrats and Republicans remember the Capitol Riot differently and that certain individual difference factors can predict the formation of false memories in this context. Misinformation played an influential role in the Capitol riot and understanding differences in memory for this event is beneficial to avoiding similar tragedies in the future.